The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-30
FAITH AT The LAST DAY.
REV. N. NJ. LONGS DISCOURSE AT
THE STRANGELY CHURCH
Last Night TO an Immense Congrega-
tlon-An Especially Bril-
liant Effort.
CHURCH ORGANIZATION d.
CUSSED BY DIR. j. b. BRINEY
At the Linden Street Christian
Church-Judge Folk at the
First Baptist.

Yesterday was favor able in every ie
spect to large attendance at the
churches and the ministers, thus en-
couraRed, seemed especially eloquent
ard effective. Below will be found
sytSopses OF sermons at the Strangers,
Christian and First Baptist churches.
Stranger Church.
The Rev. N. M. Ions discourse at
the Strangers church was listened to
by congregation that left standing
room only" His text was Luke xviii.
s: Nevertheless, when the son tf
man cometh, will he find faith on the
earth" After explaining the nature
of the question, and Its importance to
the Christian world, he noticed the
allegations OF Tyndsll, Huxley and
Hseclrel, that Christianity has served
q necessary purpose and achieved
most i'm portant work, but that science
now takes her place, aud she can no
longer he p mankind, but only ham
per his advancement. Leading spirit
ualists, the speaker proceeded, assert
the same idea, but from different
point OF view. He then proceeded to
dissect these allegations, claiming 1t
was high time thai eleeping gospelers
awake from their Rip Van Wrinkle
dose, and see whether they are In stu:
pidity attempting to get warmth and
comfort from q CORPSE.
/. Isreal faith in God and Jesu Christ
dtc.iningf Are men more unbeliev.
ing now than they were 100 years ego ?
/ do not think 80. There are more
omen In fidels and infidel books In print
In 1887 than there were in 1887, no
doubt. This is because OF freedom OF
discuss lon, aud freedom OF the press.
Today men speak what 100 years ago
they only thought. In 1887 there were
| 8 600, 900 OF people in this country
today there are 50,OOO,O0O, gathered
from the slums Of the earth's skepti-
cism. The ratio Of earnest Christian
thinkers and believers has far out.
stripped the ratio of iDfidelity. Ia
proportion to the population OF this
country, there are more avowed be.
levers in the gospel of the Son OF God
today than there were 100 years ago
and in proportion to the population
there are fewer open infdels than
there were in 1887.
2. But, is the spirit Of devotion OF
worship dying out or deadP In older
times men were taught to worship IL
fear and trembling. God was looked
upon as q consuming fire, and believ
ers were required to come into thu
sanctuary bending soul and body. ThiI
idea mas undoubtedly died out, be
cause characteristic of an age of slave
nv and tyranny. Now the entire cas-
OF human life. and Thoughts aud senti
ment has changed. Liberty has conn
to every class OF men as to their rights
their attitudes and words. They hav,
come to look upon God as a father
. friend, benevolent, and az a conet
. tutional King, whose own conduct
as strictly governed by the rules o
right and goodD 10 as Is the conduc
OF any creature In His universe. Tn
fear and awe # medic yal ign lranc'
and superstition have been almos
completely sifted ont OF worship b.
the forcs OF clearer knowledge ant
better educat on, and worship has az
sumed the character of boldness, con
fidence and cheerful admiration.
8. Active Christian ZEAL How doe
Christianity compare with any OF tn
centuries that are past2 There
scarce y any comparison. Never sine
the days OF the apostles and their In
3 mediate successors have there bse
s such earnest, self denying and col
1 certed efforts to extend the infuenc
Of the Gospel over this entire worl
d. as within the last half century, an
:. never has there been such success
} Never was the missionary epirit o u
8 gressive, active, indeiatigAble.
g completely organized and n
1 gulated by profound business taller
and systematic d cooperation
Not a foot of land upon this 9 obs is
be- lett unconquered DER which tn
banners OF the con Ct God aha | way
It in victory before the camp aiVn end
It 4. The practical aud fundament
aim of Christianity has always bee
and is to make men good. Is
strength and Influence in this egsi
l. declining2 There Is more OF the re
n spirit OF Christian love and virtue
y family life today thsn ever was beior
C, Evidences OF this fact are
r be seen, heard and felt on every hal
N The great benevolent societ'ts OF Il
b age, the grand cooperative sssoci
" tons for the bentf and elevation
y the race, the mighty movement
h reformation, are but manifestation
', an ! expressions of the genius OF Il
"a gospel,
III Men oitentimes uujustly contour
the church with Christianity, accuell
Oh istianity of what the church
b. guilty Of. 1t Is too sadly true that u
y church has brought disgrace upont
- religion she PROCESSES, by madly a
ting herself against almost every hi
and holy cause that has bfen agitate
~ This abe has done from policy, frc
Vi fear OF nngering wealthy membere,
v. from misguided jealousy. But n
~ withstandipg this, the real force Il
~, undeTlies aud moves your reform
W tions, revolutions ami emancipation
that have resulted in the good q
Of. happiness OF men, has been the mo-
force Of Christianity.
Nv The eloquent and learned minis
then noted the claim that think
men are sloughing of belief In OH
tianity; that scientific men are dis|
ng LEVERS, and that men are pointing
n, this fact as significant. He conClud
M with a strong argument against
k plea that the moral precepts OF
&C. gospel have been outgrown. DUR
raj Its delivery almost breathless sileI
70, prevailed, and the vast audience uni
h imously pronounced 1t one OF
,er gifted minister's best and most b
on liant efforts.
On. ---
4. First baptist Church.
Judge II. B. Folk, Of B'ownsvi